Kobna Kuttah Holdbrook-Smith is a Ghanaian born British actor. He has played roles in films, including Father Richard Emery in Ghost Stories (2017), Oliver in The Commuter, Templeton Frye in Mary Poppins Returns and Doctor Wren in Gwen (all 2018). He has portrayed Crispus Allen in the superhero film Justice League (2017), part of the DC Extended Universe.
For his performance in Tina in the West End, he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Early life and education Kobna Kuttah Holdbrook-Smith was born in Accra, Ghana. He grew up in Frimley, Surrey, England, where he lived with his parents, [Yoku] Henry Andrew Holdbrook-Smith and Tenu Holdbrook-Smith, and his brother, Kofi. He was initially afraid of taking up acting due to his family's disapproval, but by the age of 18, had decided that he wanted to become an actor. He attended Guildford School of Acting to study acting, graduating in 2000.
Career Holdbrook-Smith began his acting career on television in 2002 when he played Orlando Figes in the Judge John Deed episode "Everyone's Child". Since then, he has had roles in TV series such as Little Britain, Star Stories (from 2006 until 2008), Taking the Flak, Sirens, Holby City, Silk, Father Brown, The Last Panthers, Class, Dark Heart, The Split and Red Election.
His first major theatre lead came in 2005, when he played Ken in Mustapha Matura's Playboy of the West Indies at the Tricycle Theatre. He later starred in their critically acclaimed African-American Season, performing in the European premieres of Walk Hard by Abram Hill, Fabulation by Lynn Nottage and Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson. In interviews he has cited August Wilson's plays as personal favourites. In 2006 he played Levee In Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, then four years later he appeared as Herald Loomis in Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson at the Young Vic Theatre.
He first appeared at the Globe in 2007 in Love's Labours Lost, which he also performed later the same year at the National Theatre of Korea, in Seoul. Holdbrook-Smith had his debut at the National Theatre in 2009 and has since starred in four productions there (most notably appearing as Mortimer in Edward II). In 2015 he played Laertes alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre. This play was also broadcast live in cinemas worldwide as part of National Theatre Live.
In 2016 Holdbrook-Smith performed with Benedict Cumberbatch again, this time in Marvel’s Dr Strange. A year later he played the part of Det. Crispus Allen in DC Comics Justice League and also starred as Warden Walker in Paddington 2, and as Father Emery in Ghost Stories. In 2018, he played the role of Oliver in The Commuter and played a dual role of the live-action character Templeton Frye and the animated voice of the Weasel in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns.
Holdbrook-Smith has also performed in BBC Radio dramas, including Judas and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He has narrated a number of audiobooks, most notably the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch.
In 2018, Holdbrook-Smith starred in the musical Tina as Ike Turner at the Aldwych Theatre.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to drama, and was recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage when Holdbrook-Smith was included in the 2021 edition of the annual Powerlist.
In 2023, Holdbrook-Smith was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Surrey.
Filmography
Film YearFilmRoleNotes 2013 The Double Guard / Doctor 2015 Hamlet Laertes Live in theatres 2016Doctor Strange Physical Therapist 2017 Ghost Stories Father Emery Justice League Detective Crispus Allen Paddington 2 Warden Walker 2018 The Commuter Oliver Mary Poppins Returns Templeton Frye / Weasel (voice) Gwen Doctor Wren2021 Zack Snyder’s Justice League Detective Crispus Allen 2023 Sumotherhood Shotti Wonka Officer Affable 2024 Apartment 7A BJ 2025 The Gorge Black Ops Commander 2026 The Sheep Detectives Reverend Hillcoate 2027 Post-production
Television YearFilmRoleNotes2002Judge John DeedOrlando FigesEpisode: "Everyone's Child" 2003CasualtyPC RiddockEpisode: "Never Judge a Book"Absolute PowerJournalist No. 1Episode: "Burn and Crash" 2004Little Britain2 episodesHolby CityLee HoldenEpisode: "One More Chance" 2005Family AffairsOfficer Kennedy1 episodeAccording to BexVox PopsRecurringMike Bassett: ManagerCarlton DawesMain cast2006PullingJoe's Father1 episode2006–2008Star StoriesVarious8 episodes 2007The BillBruno HammondEpisode: "Code of Silence"The WhistleblowersMale NurseEpisode: "Pandemic"Katy Brand's Big Ass Show1 episode 2009Whatever It TakesNifemiTV movieTaking the FlakJoyful SifuriMain castPhoneShopGrahamEpisode: "New Man: Pilot"Sorry I've Got No HeadVariousSeason 2 only2010WhitesBarnaby1 episode 2011RoadkillTommyTV movieSirensRyan BaileyRecurringHolby CityPaul James2 episodes2012SilkPaul McGovern1 episode 2013FrankieMax Hall1 episodeThe CaféJasonRecurring 2014Turks & CaicosColin MaitlisTV movieCrackanoryCommanderEpisode: "In Space No One Can Hear You Clean & the Weather Man"Agatha RaisinRev. Jez BloxbyEpisode: "The Quiche of Death" 2015Father BrownMarvin MorrisEpisode: "The Invisible Man"Midsomer MurdersRob MeadEpisode: "The Dagger Club"The Last PanthersJames DavisMiniseries; main castCapitalMashinkoMiniseries2016ClassJasper AdeolaEpisode: "Nightvisiting"2018Dark HeartDS Dave Pulford1 episode2018–2024The SplitGlen PetersRecurring2019MotherlandNickEpisode: "Mother's Load" 2021Red ElectionLevi NicholsMain castRagdollJoel Shepton3 episodesSuperwormWizard Lizard (voice)TV movie2022His Dark MaterialsBalthamosRecurring2023AccusedDavid MingoEpisode: "Kendall's Story"2024The VeilJohnson Episode: "Crossing the Bridge"Mr LovermanTony Episode #1.52025Wolf KingMaster Hogan / Werelord at Bast (voice)2 episodesDreaming Whilst BlackRudolph3 episodes
Stage YearTitleRolesNotes 2010 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Bynum Walker Young Vic Theatre 2015 Hamlet Laertes (Hamlet) Barbican Centre 2018 Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Ike Turner Aldwych Theatre 2023; 2024 The Effect Toby Lyttelton TheatreThe Shed
Audio + List of voice performances in audio plays Year Title Role Notes 2009 Bigipedia BBC Radio 4 2012 Lover's Rock Ben BBC Radio 3 2014 What Would Elizabeth Bennet Do? James BBC Radio 4 2014 On Her Majesty's Secret Service Sable Basilisk BBC Radio 4 2015 The Left Hand of Darkness Genly Ai BBC Radio 4 2018 Judas John BBC Radio 4 2020 Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Treason Dr. Watson Audible Original 2021 Maynard Marcus BBC Radio 4 2023 7 Ghosts David BBC Radio 4
Video game Year Title Role Notes 2026 Directive 8020 LaMarcus Williams Voice
Awards and nominations
Stage YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2019Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actor in a MusicalTina: The Tina Turner MusicalBlack British Theatre AwardBest Male Actor in a MusicalWhatsOnStage AwardBest Actor in a Musical
References
External links